Conversations and Pork Biotechnology

In an age where farm-to-fork traceability of products is expected, farmers need to be sure they are rearing pigs to the standards of their customers. Traceability is important to all customers – local, domestic, and global. Very often, the loudest voice in the pork industry is the global market. In October 2019, two major pork producers, JBS Swift and Tyson Foods, announced a ban on ractopamine across their supply chains. The timing of this could not be more associated with global markets: Asia is still reeling from the impact of African Swine Fever. The continuing losses are massive, and for a part of the world where pork reigns king on the plate, demand is strong. However, to serve this market, American producers need to change some of their standard practices in biotechnology, including the use of ractopamine.

Responsible use of biotechnology serves a beneficial role in enhancing the efficiency of pig production. In the United States, the use of biotechnology has greatly benefited pork availability and kept food prices affordable for the population. That said, biotechnology use in the United States is also market-dependent, including the use of ractopamine. Ractopamine, known by the brand name Paylean®, is an FDA-approved feed additive that briefly extends the lean growth of the pig and delays fat deposition for a short time. For pig farmers, this is useful in improving feed efficiency and lean pork yield in late-finishing hogs. Additionally, show pig enthusiasts utilize ractopamine to keep heavy hogs from laying down too much fat just before the show. 

In Pennsylvania, as in the United States at large, ractopamine use by pig farmers is market-dependent. This is not because ractopamine is an unsafe product, but because there are local and domestic markets for pork raised without ractopamine. Similar to the demand for pork reared without antibiotics, pasture-raised pork, or specialty heritage-breed pork, these specialty pork products are labeled due to customer demand. However, because of labeling, it is easy to forget the food safety regulations already in place in the United States. 

Like many biotechnologies, the use of ractopamine is controversial around the world. In the United States, legal usage of drugs, feed supplements, antibiotics, and veterinary products in food animals is highly regulated at USDA-inspected harvest facilities through residue testing. Residues are signatures of the drug, supplement, antibiotic, or other product that can be detected in tissue. Residues are eliminated over time as the animal breaks down those products. Any meat with unsafe levels of residues is removed from the food chain.  

For harvest facilities, any animal that tests positive for residues is an expense and a loss of saleable product. For pig farmers, the loss of saleable meat at the plant likely signals a broken relationship between the harvest facilities and the farmer, and potentially a loss of a market for their pork. Losing your market puts your pig business at risk. This includes show hogs. To keep the shows going, you need to be aware of the customer demand for your hogs after the show, so there is an outlet for them, and the shows can continue for years to come.

Despite these regulations, some customers – local, domestic, and global- would prefer that certain products are not utilized at all. To be a player in any market means meeting customers' demands. Participating in any market makes it the farmer's or pig caretaker's responsibility to know where their pigs are sold and to ensure they meet their customers' expectations. Regardless of the size of your operation, this requires a conversation with your customer. Be it the customers at the local farmers' market, the local butcher shop, a domestic packer, or a global player, be sure to have that conversation long before you are ready to sell your pigs.

So how can pig producers, big and small, utilize biotechnologies and keep their markets and operations running smoothly? 

• Work with a veterinarian, nutritionist, and extension. Experts will help you understand the responsible use of biotechnologies, such as ractopamine, and veterinary interventions, such as antibiotics. 
• Read the label on any product you choose to use. Labeling on all products describes the legal use of the product based on FDA approval. Using any products outside the labeling is only legal under veterinary guidance. This includes feed supplements.
• Follow withdrawal times. Found on the label, following withdrawal times is key to responsible food production. 
• Talk to your customer. Know what your customer is expecting, even if that customer is a large packer or your neighbor. Be sure to discuss your responsible use of biotechnology; a conversation goes a long way toward benefiting both the producer and the customer. 

The use of biotechnologies has many benefits for pig producers. However, not all customers are ready to accept those biotechnologies in their food system. Being on the same page with your customer about biotechnology use will help you maintain access to your market and keep your pig operation running smoothly.

Additional Resources

Learn more about ractopamine usage in swine (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach).